Three-way valve



June 29,1926. 1,590,359

C. E. FOOTE THREE-WAY VALVE Filed April 15 1925 T0 SUPPL Y i D I Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. FOOTE, F NUNDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOOTE COMPANY, INC., OF NUNDA., NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

THREE-WAY VALVE.

Application led April 15, 1925.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in three-way valves for concrete pavers, and has for an object to provide a valve mechanism wherein the water may be directed to a storage tank on the paver and from which storage tank the water may be liberated at desired intervals to the mixing drum. l

As is well known to those skilled in the art, most of the concrete pavers are provided with storage tanks from which the water is supplied to the mixing drum. This is bet-\ ter practice than running water from a main supply line directly to the mixing drum.

The reason for this is that the pressure of the main supply line may vary between very great limits and it is therefore preferable to provide a storage tank which can be refilled or be refilling between the intervals when the water is being supplied to the mixing drum.

One of the present objects of the invention is to also provide a three-way `valve which is balanced so that the operation of the valve will not require hard manual labor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a three-way valve wherein the majority of the parts are of metal, only two rubber gaskets o r rings being used in the entire valve mechanism.

The valve in its broadest aspect is somewhat similar to the valve shown in the patent to E. H. Lichtenberg, No. 1,525,100, but

in that valve a balancing piston is shown which is pivotally connected to the valve stem and this balancing member is provided with leather or other flexible material which is bound to wear in service and will often need replenishing. Also, the casing has certain chambers thereinthat are dificult to cast, and springs and other members are necessary. The construction hereinafter to be described is more simple in construction and more lasting in service and contemplates but one main valve stem on which is cast or formed a piston adapted to travel in a cylinder and which piston provides the balancing action during the operation of the valve.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism comprising but relatively few parts, capable of simplicity Serial No. 23,368.

of operation, readily and quickly assembled, and relatively cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the construction consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed'out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, showing a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a paver showing a storage tank for the water and my improved valve being shown in section, and the valve in the positioi for supplying water to the storage tank, an

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the piston having the integral valve stem.

IReferring now more specifically to the drawings, there is shown a portion of a frame 1, of a concrete paver on which is mounted a storage tank 2 for the water, a main supply pipe 3 being shown extending to my improved valve 4. Leading from the bottom of this valve is a pipe 5 which is designed to furnish the water to the drum of the paver, not shown. From one of the sides of the valve 4 is shown the pipe 6 which extends Within the storage tank 2 to thus supply the tank with water.

Referring now more in detail to my improved valve 4, it will be seen that it consists of an upper casing 7 in which is the cylinder 7 and is provided at its top witha stulling box 8, while on one side of the casing is formed an extension 9 having the inlet port 10 formed therein to which port leads the main supply pipe 3.

On top of the extension is pivoted the link 11 to which in turn is pivoted the cross bar 12, which in turn is connected to the rod 13 operated by a rod 14 through the bell crank lever 15. A handle, not shown, will be connected to the rod 14 to transmit motion through the several rods to the cross bar 12 to thus raise and lower the same.

Operating within the cylinder 7 .is the piston 16A which is provided with the two ears 17 at its upper end, a bolt securing the cross bar l2 to the ears of the piston so that an operation of the rod 14 will raise and lower this piston through the vmedium of the cross bar 12. The lower end of the cylinder 7 is provided with a circular flange 18 which flange provides a restricted opening for this cylinder, or in other words, provides a valve seat and an outlet port 18 which Will be opened and closed by the operation of the piston, as will be shortly described.

The piston extends downwardly in this cylinder opposite the inlet port 10, and may have the short skirt 19 formed thereon for strengthening the Same. Integrally and centrally of this piston is the stem 2O which extends through the opening or port 18 into a second chamber 21 formed in the casing 22. This casing has the opening 23 in the bottom thereof which forms an outlet port and there is also provided another port 24 to which is connected the pipe 6 heretofore referred to. A anged ring 25 is preferably threaded about the pipe 5 and this flanged ring is bolted to the bottom of the casing 22, and likewise the upper casing 7 is bolted to the top of this casing 22.

The lower end of lthe stem 2O carries a metal washer 26 ydesigned to hold a rubber gasket or ring 27 in contact with a small metal rim 28 and a further rubber ring 29 is held on the bottom surface` of this metal rim 28 by a small plate 30 fitted about the stem and in turn held in place by the nut 31 threaded onto the lower end of the stem 20. When the valve is in the position shown, the water will enter the inlet port 10 and flow beneath the piston and through the lower opening 18 in the chamber -to the chamber21 and, as the valve stem is in its lowermost position, the. rubber rin 29 will close the outlet port 23 (which lea s to the drum) and the Water will flow through the outlet port 24 to lill the storage tank 2.

Inasmuch as the pressure will be exerted against the head of the piston and against the valve member on the stem, the pressure will be substantially balanced, making it easier to raise the piston and valve stem when desired.

To operate the valve, the rod 14 will be pulled outwardly, which in turn will operate the cross bar 12 to thus elevate the piston, and the vvalve stem being a. part of the piston Will also be raised, and in this instance,

the gasket or ring 27 will seat on the under surface of the flange 18, thereby closing the opening 18 and as this opening is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the piston head, the pressure from the main supply will tend to hold the piston in its uppermost position. The raising of the piston has also opened the outlet 23, thus allowing the water from the storage tank to flow from the pipe 6 and through the chamber 21 to the drum of the mixer by way of the pipe 5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and economical form of balanced valve, `wherein the water may be supplied to the storage tank from any main supply, and by the operation of the valve, the supply to the storage tank will be cut oi, and simultaneously permit the water to How from the storage tank to the mixing drum.

Furthermore, the rubber rings are the only parts subjected 1.o appreciable wear, and these may be quickly renewed with but little loss of time. Again, by providing the valve stem cast integral with the balancing piston, the life of the valveI as a whole will be greatly lengthened and require little or no attention. 1

^ Furthermore, it will be seen that the casings are very simple in form and are easily cast after which they may be machined and bolted together; that by providing a stuffing box and packing the gland the piston may be well lubricated and will need no attention. Lastly, by forming the stem integral with the piston, there is no lost' play in the stem; the action is direct, and the several ports will be tightly closed on the operation of the piston. There are no springs or pivotal connections within the valve to get out of order or out of alignment.

Many slight changes might be made without departing from the' spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a valve construction, a valve body comprising two superimposed chambers, said chambers provided with openings so that the water may iiow from-the upper chamber to the lowerc chamber, the upper chamber provided with a main supplyl port and the walls of the upper chamber forming a cylinder for the reception of a counterbalancing piston, the lower chamber provided W1th a discharge opening in its bottom and on one of its sides, a counterbalancing pistonwithin the cylinder formed by the upperchamber walls'and having an integral into the lower of said chamstem extendin bers and provided with closure means thereon to close the lower opening in the upper chamber and the dischar e opening in the bottom of the lower cham er, and means for operating the piston to thereby selectively close either of said last mentioned openings.

2. A three way valve mechanism for concrete mixers comprising an upper and lower casing, said casings having opposed valve seats therein, the walls of the upper casing forming a cylinder for the reception of a oounterbalancing piston, the upper casing provided with an inlet and outlet opening, the lower chamber rovided with an inlet and two outlet openings, a piston operable in said cylinder having a valve stem formed thereon and extending into the lower chamber, a valve closure means on said stem and operating between said opposed seats, the said piston forming pressure counterbalanclower chamber, said upper casing provided with an inlet port, the lower casing rovided with two outlet portsfthe walls of t e upper chamber forming a cylinder for the reception of a counterbalancing piston, a counterbalancin piston operable in said cylinder and provlded with valve closure means, and means for operating said piston to selectively control the closing of either valve seat to thereby direct the water to the tank or to the mixing drum.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

CHARLES E. FOOTE. 

